Features
4
Blackjack came from Cingular and Samsung with the standard install of Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone Edition along with the excellent Picsel Viewer and a few Cingular applications. While the device is technically capable of multitasking, it didn't take much to slow Blackjack down considerably during normal use. Fast typing during message composition sometimes resulted in noticeable screen lag. I also experienced many, many crashes and JavaScript-related problems when browsing the Web using Internet Explorer. Unfortunately, Picsel's excellent Web browser, which comes pre-installed on the Samsung IP-830w smartphone, does not come with Blackjack.
Samsung built Blackjack with a 220 MHz processor inside, but it's really not enough for power users. Performance was more or less on par with the Motorola Q that I recently tested: Running one application at a time was generally fine - save for the issues with fast typing and Web browsing I mentioned - but switching between applications was relatively slow and hopping, say, from Email to Contacts to the Web definitely involved some waiting around. While it remains to be seen if the forthcoming Windows Mobile 6 OS - which Samsung has confirmed will be available to Blackjack owners - will improve performance, a smartphone with a heartier processor such as Cingular's 8525 (and its 400 MHz chip) can do more for you faster than Blackjack can. Of course, a beefier handset will be, well, beefier in the hand; Samsung had to sacrifice some performance to keep Blackjack so small and light.
Cingular included a few multimedia applications that give access to their exclusive content. Cingular Video, which features clips from CNN, HBO, and other content providers, requires access to their 3G HSDPA network, while Cingular Music and XM Streaming Radio worked fairly well over the slower EDGE network that most rural users will have to settle for. Cingular's Blackjack definitely has an edge over Sprint and Verizon's Q when it comes to entertainment options - at least for now.
Outlook mobile handles email, contacts, and organizer functionality, and should be familiar territory to users of its desktop counterpart. Caller and photo caller ID are supported. Scheduling and editing Outlook appointments was easy using the Blackjack's front panel controls, and scrolling through calendars with the phone's right-side scroll wheel was a snap, as well. That being said, Outlook Mobile's user interface is serviceable but certainly nowhere near as pleasant in terms of look and feel as calendar apps found on Symbian devices. Again, Windows Mobile devotees are eagerly awaiting the updated version of Outlook soon to arrive on WinMob 6.
Windows Media Player 10 Mobile handles audio/video playback, and it works well with media files loaded onto the Blackjack via Bluetooth and microSD memory card, as well as those downloaded directly from the Net. Though it lacks the grace of iTunes or even Nokia's mobile music player, Windows Media works well as a digital audio player, supporting playlists and album art display. Video clips looked excellent when viewed on the Blackjack's QVGA screen, though at 2.25" it is a bit smaller than the Q's 2.5" screen or even the 2.4" display found on the T-Mobile Dash.
It should be noted that Blackjack's battery life isn't quite on par with that of other smartphones, though it does fall into the same "acceptable, but you need to recharge it every night" category that most of its competitors do. With medium-heavy use of broadband data and multiple applications, and some Bluetooth activity, the phone was in dire need of a recharge by the end of a single work day. My review handset actually came with a backup battery, and an extended life battery is available as an option.
Blackjack features a 1.3 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom. There is no flash or assist light on the phone, but a small mirror is mounted next to the optical sensor for self-portrait taking. The camera features timer, multi-shot, and video capture modes.
The camera's performance was adequate, if nothing to get too excited about. Photos tended to come out a little soft-focused, though those taken outdoors in ample lighting yielded better results. Sending photos via email over Cingular's network was fast and easy, and photos could also be used for MMS messages or transferred to a computer via microSD card or Bluetooth.
A video capture mode is available, as well, but video capture is limited to just nine frames per second, resulting in some pretty unspectacular motion effects. Videos can, however, be captured at resolutions up to 320x240, which is quite large for a camera phone.
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